In August 1990 Iraq invaded the Gulf state of Kuwait, setting off a chain of events that led to a war with the West. Look back at the key moments and click on the video links to see the television news reports of the time.

1990

2 August: Iraqi troops invade Kuwait, taking the emirate in one day. The BBC's John Simpson says the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is "by far the strongest leader in the region". In his report he explains how the West inadvertently helped bring about the invasion.

18 August: Iraq says the nationals of "hostile countries" still in Kuwait will be held as "guests" at strategic sites in Kuwait.

25 August: The UN Security Council authorises the use of force to make the trade boycott work.

17 October: Western troops in the Gulf number 200,000 US troops, 15,000 UK troops and 11,000 French troops.

29 November: The UN Security Council says Iraq must voluntarily withdraw from Kuwait by 15 January 1991. It authorises "all necessary means" to force Iraq out if it does not comply. Baghdad rejects the "ultimatum". In his report the BBC's Brian Hanrahan says: "President Bush is under pressure not to be hasty."

29 January: The US and the Soviet Union offer to declare a ceasefire if Iraq pledges to withdraw from Kuwait.

13 February: An allied missile lands on an air-raid shelter in Baghdad, killing at least 314 people. Iraqi officials take the BBC's Jeremy Bowen to see the aftermath. He is accompanied at all times but he says the grief and anger is not a propaganda stunt.

26 February: Saddam Hussein confirms a Radio Baghdad report that Iraqi troops have been ordered to retreat from Kuwait. But he does not renounce claims to Kuwait.

27 February: The first Kuwaiti troops enter Kuwait City and President Bush announces the liberation of Kuwait. He announces the cessation of hostilities will be effective from 0400 GMT the following day. The allies say they have destroyed more than half the Iraqi divisions and captured 500,000 prisoners.